Hurricane Gonzalo ended up weaker than expected when it hit Bermuda last week, but damage on the island was still widespread.
The storm, which had been forecast to hit the island as a Category 4 hurricane had been downgraded to a Category 3 when it reached the island on Friday. By the time the eye of the storm passed over the island, it had been downgraded to a Category 2 with 110 mph winds.
“The storm weakened prior to landfall due to both lower sea surface temperatures and higher wind shear in the vicinity of Bermuda,” said Scott Stransky, manager and principal scientist at AIR Worldwide.
The Bermuda Electric Light Company, Bermuda’s utility service, reported that approximately 80% of the island’s 65,000 residents lost power from the storm. The Causeway, which links the Bermuda International Airport in St. George’s Parish to Hamilton Parish on the mainland, was closed Friday morning and sustained minor damage.
Risk modeling firm AIR Worldwide is on the ground in the country this week, and sent the following photos of the aftermath to PC360.
All photos are courtesy AIR Worldwide.
Damage to a hotel unit. All the other units were fine and the hotel was operating as normal.
Damage to boats, docks, and buildings at Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club. This is the very eastern end of the harbor, so any boats that broke free during the first half of the storm ended up here. Once they were aground, they stayed, because the tide was dropping for the worst of the storm surge.
Additional damage to boats, docks, and buildings at Royal Hamilton Amateur Dinghy Club.
Damage to a large building just outside of Dockyard. The roofing is not traditional Bermudian roofing.
A case of an old, poorly maintained building in Bermuda with clear signs of cracks in the stone blocks and rotting beams.
Damage to the causeway. A few of the wall segments were broken off. Divers were out inspecting the wall on 10/20.
Damage recorded at the Bermuda Aquarium Museum and Zoo. Roof damage was sustained to one exhibit, but there were still animals inhabiting it. One piece from the roof was found about a quarter mile away.
Another case of non-Bermuda-style roofs being heavily damaged. AIR noted that of the very few wooden/shingle roofs in Bermuda, most of them were in at least this bad of shape.
Heavily damaged church roof along North Shore near Flatt’s.
Downed boats in a boat yard in Dockyard. Many boats in this yard were damaged by falling over (more so than any other boat yards that were observed).
Roof and side damage to a residential building.
Damage at Gibb’s Hill Light House in Southampton. The damage to the restaurant area was extensive, but the rest of the lighthouse was operating as normal.
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